🌱 Man Arrested After Fatal Motel Shooting + Dragonfly Trail Mural

Good morning, Columbus. I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 93 Low: 72.
• Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 90 Low: 72.

Here are the top three stories in Columbus today:

1. An investigation is underway regarding a fatal shooting at a motel in south Columbus. The victim has been identified as James N. Mitchell, a 47-year-old individual. The Columbus Police Department has arrested 19-year-old Jaboree Boone-Scott, charging him with murder and possession of a firearm during the crime. Boone-Scott is set to appear in Recorder's Court for a preliminary hearing today, Jul. 8. (WTVM)
2. Several parts of the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta were closed for the Jul. 4 weekend due to high levels of E. Coli detected in the water after a spill from a wastewater treatment facility. The closure initially covered six miles but expanded to 15 miles within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. However, areas downstream of the spill, including Columbus and Lake Harding, are not expected to be significantly affected due to the river's dilution capacity. (WTVM)
3. The Dragonfly Trail will soon feature a new 6,000-square-foot mural created by seven local artists, making it the largest public art installation on the Columbus RiverWalk. The artists involved in the project include Chris Johnson, Raven Henderson, Vinh Huynh, Mike Jones, Joseph Melancon, Harrison Mills, and Samantha Yoo. To stay informed about the mural's progress, you can follow the Dragonfly Trail Network on their Facebook page. (WRBL)

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Today and tomorrow in Columbus:

Saturday, July 8

• An Introduction To Medicinal Flowers At Columbus Botanical Garden (10:00 AM)

Sunday, July 9

• Family Day: Spring Mountains At Painting With A Twist (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Columbus Police Department honored and celebrated the remarkable 33-year career of Cpl. Jeff Jones, who is retiring from the department. Congratulations, Jeff! (Columbus Georgia Police Department via Facebook)
• The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation is recognizing the children of servicemembers residing in nearby Fort Moore by hosting a ceremony where 13 recipients will be awarded college scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. The event will be held at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus on Jul. 10 at 12:00 p.m., with Fort Moore residents collectively receiving over $100,000 in scholarships for the upcoming academic year. (WTVM)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Columbus area at the link! (Columbus Patch)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.